Santa Clara Co. Sheriff offers reward for missing inmates

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- An around-the-clock manhunt continues Friday for two escaped inmates in the South Bay.

Rogelio Chavez and Laron Campbell broke out of the Santa Clara County Jail late Wednesday night.

A $20,000 reward is being offered for their capture.

Tracking dogs joined the search for the inmates who broke out of Santa Clara County's main jail. They did find a scent, the animals followed it more than 7 miles along the Guadalupe River from the path off West Hedding Street in San Jose to Tasman and Lick Mill Boulevard in Santa Clara.

"We've gotten some good leads," said Lt. Elbert Rivera of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. "A couple good tips in the sence where, you know, one of them speaks of them being seen in that area. And with the use of the dogs, that confirms they were in that area. So we're getting closer."

Authorities held a news conference on the search for two inmates who escaped from Santa Clara County jail.

Chavez and Campbell have been missing since Wednesday.

Sheriff Laurie Smith says they used some sort of cutting tool to saw through the metal bars of the window and tied clothing together to form a rope. "Things are smuggled into jails and prisons all the time and I don't know how they got it," she said. "Again, that's something I'm going to be looking at--how can we shore up our security system."

Two other inmates tried to escape with Chavez and Campbell but were immediately captured.

One of them, 20-year-old Yasindu Desilva has only been in jail since Sunday for an armed home invasion.

Investigators now have an idea of the direction of the inmates and are looking for security cameras along that route, but they still need the public's help.

"I want to remind the community that these are dangerous people," said Smith. "They are not to be approached. Please just dial 911."